Press Releases & Updates 2002

Olivia, 61, a grandmother of four and a former health visitor from Skipton in Yorkshire, appeared this morning in Helensburgh District Court to explain why she had not paid the fine of £150 she was given at her March trial. She told Justice of the peace Viv Dance, who presided at her trial in March: "My conduct was not disorderly and I did not commit a breach of the peace. I will not compensate this court for its misguided interpretation of the law."

She also criticised the JP for not taking into account in her sentence the fact that after Olivia’s arrest last February she had been subjected, along with nine other women, to a completely unnecessary strip-search and other processes designed to humiliate her in Kilmarnock Police Station. She went on: "I got up at 5 a.m. to come to Scotland to take responsibility for my actions. I am asking you to take responsibility and deal with this matter now. I have already had experience of the bailiffs and that is just like an extended prison sentence in one’s own home."

JP Dance said that she recalled her reasons for finding Olivia guilty at the trial. She acknowledged that she had no intention of paying the fine and sentenced her to seven days.

Also in court was Dr. Margaret Jones, 53, a freelance writer from Bristol. She was found guilty of breach of the peace at the mass blockade of Faslane on October 22 last year. Margaret explained that she had come to Faslane after it had dawned on her that Trident was capable of destroying one third of the planet. She had not come to cause a ruck - peace campaigners were not hooligans. If anyone was causing alarm and distress it was the UK government. Supporters in court were impressed with how well she mounted a good legal defence to a breach of the peace charge but showed that the real problem is Trident itself.

JP Dance was less impressed and found her guilty, fining her £150. As she left the court a warrant for her arrest was served relating to another charge and she was taken into custody and will appear again in court tomorrow.

Ian Shimmin, 31, from Faslane Peace Camp was next. At the blockade of the base this February he had climbed onto the top of the North gate and it was over three hours before the police got him down by building special scaffolding. When it became clear that he had not been warned to desist by the police JP Dance accepted a plea of no case to answer on the breach of the peace charge, but he was found guilty of malicious damage to the razor wire and fined £100.

Maureen Ukairo, a pensioner and retired home care worker from London was fined £150. She said: "I represent a large number of sympathisers who can’t protest in this way."

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